Foster was sitting in the back seat of the limousine opposite the man she had working for seven years ago. He stared outside the window at the passing lights of Washington D.C. while she was studying him.
His short gray hair, the camel hair coat, the rimless glasses, his whole appearance didn't change a bit from the day when she left the Pentagon. Dr. Johnson was her direct supervisor and the man who pulled out all the stops to make her work for the Pentagon in the first place.
He was a brilliant psychologist who taught her a lot. She used to look up to him until she realized that he was manipulative and involved in the dark deeds of the department.
Finally she asked. "What do you want from me?"
He answered without looking away from the window. "You know that I always valuated you highly Dr. Foster."
"This was not an answer to my question Dr. Johnson." She said in a firm tone.
He grinned amused and eyed her. "Working with Dr. Lightman evidently benefited your crudity."
"Working with Dr. Lightman benefited my reasoning."
He nodded and they kept speechlessness for a while.
"I believe you received internal information today." He broke the silence.
A cold shiver ran down her back. "You are saying that the assassination was ordered by the DoD?"
"Well, to rectify, you just said that. I am not saying anything."
"So I am right."
"To be right is a loose concept."
Now it was her turn to look out the window but she didn't really notice the outside. She didn't notice that they pulled up again in front of the Lightman office.
She startled when her phone rang but made no move to pick it up.
When the ringing ceased Dr. Johnson spoke. "We both know the person on whom open season was declared."
She tried hard to regain her composure. "Why?"
"Sometimes people are oblivious of sensitive information in their knowledge."
Disgust was written all over her face which didn't slip his attention.
"There is nothing you can do about it. Neither can I. I am sorry Gillian."
Lightman's heartbeat increased with every ring that passed and she didn't pick up her phone. He had the feeling to suffocate. "Pick up, Foster, pick up..."
Torres was standing in the doorway to his office and watched the fury rise in his features. She didn't dare to move nor to breathe.
Lightman gave up on the phone and concentrated his attention on Torres. "Where were you headed?"
"We...we were on the way to meet a former patient of hers, Marcus Adams..."
Lightman stepped out into the hallway where Loker was just about to leave.
"Oi! Loker! Heel!"
He went back into his office and glanced at Torres. "Have I told you to stop talking?"
"She...she definitely knew the person in the car but..."
Loker entered irritated Lightman's office but became sober when he met the upset gaze of Torres.
"But what?" Lightman snarled at her.
Torres instinctively stepped back awed. "She was afraid."
Before Lightman could digest the last bit of information his phone rang.
"Emily...No, I'm fine...What? Why? What supper?"
Emily rolled her eyes. She stood in the kitchen of her father's house, holding the phone between her head and her shoulder while she juggled with saucepans.
"Dad, are you familiar with Alzheimer's? Maybe we should test you or something before you entirely forget your own daughter."
"Has it occurred to you that maybe I would be less stressed out then."
"Very funny. I guess I dine alone tonight."
"I'm sorry, Em, I won't be home soon."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothin'. Nothin' is wrong, luv." He figured that his daughter wouldn't believe him because he wouldn't believe himself.
Emily put down the saucepan and took the phone into her hand. „Dad?"
Lightman saw Foster entering his office. "I am just fine." He said truly relieved.
"Okay, but...don't forget to eat."
"And don't you be so smothering."
"Dad, you know that you are the most smothering person on this planet, right."
"Right. Bye, luv."
He hung up and for a moment he let himself get carried away by his inexpressible concern for Foster.
"Why didn't you answer your bloody phone?" He shouted at her.
Foster only smiled kindly. Lightman's way of expressing affection was not always decent.
His voice became soft. "I'm sorry luv."
She swallowed. "I had a conversation with Dr. Johnson."
Lightman bared his teeth and and asked in disgust. „Johnson?"
"Someone from the Pentagon, I assume?" Loker asked but neither Foster nor Lightman seemed to have noticed his question.
Foster fought back her tears.
Lightman's throat tied up. "What did that son of a slag tell you?"
One single tear rolled down her cheek."He confirmed the contracted killing of a person I know."
There was deafening silence.
Then he saw the red dot in the area of her heart. Four little lie experts tried so hard to see, one saw too late and then there were three. Suddenly he understood that this time they were not dealing with his past. This time it was not about him. The world turned in slow motion.
He heard himself shout. "Everyone duck!"
Lightman shoved Foster back and when he turned around he saw the window burst into millions of pieces. For a short moment it was like a million of diamonds were cascading into his office. Then he turned his head and caught confusion, fear and pain in her eyes as she fell heavily to the ground.
I hope you are enjoying my story! Reviews and opinions are highly appreciated!